Politicians and the law

By Sammy Dodd, New Bern

Published: Friday, October 12, 2012 at 01:53 PM.

I find it truly amazing and appalling that politicians and candidates for political office can seem to get away with breaking the law, while the average citizen is punished heavily for doing the same. This issue knows no political party as Democrats and Republicans have both had their fair share of breaking the law and getting away with it. Law Breaking knows no bounds when it comes to politicians. Washington D.C. lawmakers have gotten away with insider trading for many years and now, down east, long time Democrat politician George Graham from Lenoir County appears untouchable.

In recent news, there was a story about the Lenoir County Democrat Party, and George Graham (candidate for N.C. House District 12). They were placing campaign materials and fliers in citizen’s mailboxes in the Grifton area, without paying postage. Last time I checked this is a federal offense! The only thing that has been done about this is a simple phone call from the Grifton Postmaster to the LCDP asking them to stop. The LCDP has since apologized and promised to stop. However, do you think the punishment has suited the crime? Definitely not.

If an average citizen or small business owner had done this, we would be in jail, or at least paying a hefty fine, along with paying postage for every flyer placed illegally in mailboxes.

This brings me to this point. Why are politicians, political parties, and candidates for public office above the law? The last time I checked these people put their pants on one leg at a time, just like I do. These people should not be above the law. As a tax paying citizen, living in N.C. House District 12, I demand equal enforcement of the law! If I am not above the law; neither is George Graham or the LCDP.

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I find it truly amazing and appalling that politicians and candidates for political office can seem to get away with breaking the law, while the average citizen is punished heavily for doing the same. This issue knows no political party as Democrats and Republicans have both had their fair share of breaking the law and getting away with it. Law Breaking knows no bounds when it comes to politicians. Washington D.C. lawmakers have gotten away with insider trading for many years and now, down east, long time Democrat politician George Graham from Lenoir County appears untouchable.

In recent news, there was a story about the Lenoir County Democrat Party, and George Graham (candidate for N.C. House District 12). They were placing campaign materials and fliers in citizen’s mailboxes in the Grifton area, without paying postage. Last time I checked this is a federal offense! The only thing that has been done about this is a simple phone call from the Grifton Postmaster to the LCDP asking them to stop. The LCDP has since apologized and promised to stop. However, do you think the punishment has suited the crime? Definitely not.

If an average citizen or small business owner had done this, we would be in jail, or at least paying a hefty fine, along with paying postage for every flyer placed illegally in mailboxes.

This brings me to this point. Why are politicians, political parties, and candidates for public office above the law? The last time I checked these people put their pants on one leg at a time, just like I do. These people should not be above the law. As a tax paying citizen, living in N.C. House District 12, I demand equal enforcement of the law! If I am not above the law; neither is George Graham or the LCDP.